Milton Keynes Dons V Hartlepool at stadium:mk : Match Preview

14 December 2012 04:01

MK Dons boss Karl Robinson is hoping Patrick Bamford will be fit enough to feature in their meeting against struggling Hartlepool.

The teenage striker, who joined the Dons on loan from Chelsea last month, is currently with his parent club receiving treatment on a hamstring problem.

The injury has ruled Bamford out of his last two matches but Robinson remains hopeful he will link up with them again before the weekend.

Midfielder Daniel Powell returned for last Saturday's defeat to Brentford after recovering from a hamstring problem but had to settle for a place on the bench.

Powell is back in contention for a starting role at stadium:mk as Robinson looks to bounce back from their first loss since October.

Hartlepool boss John Hughes could have Peter Hartley available.

The central defender missed last weekend's home defeat to Stevenage with conjunctivitis, but has trained this week and should be in contention at stadium:mk.

But fellow defender Neil Austin remains absent as he serves the third instalment of a four-game ban following two red cards this season.

Apart from that Hughes has no other injury concerns and Simon Walton will be pushing for a start after a hamstring injury restricted him to the bench against Gary Smith's side last week, while Luke James also made a substitute's return following a double hernia operation.

Pools, 10 points adrift at the foot of the table, are chasing their first win under Hughes and their first success since September 1 - a run of 20 games in all competitions.